General Loads

ADAPT-Builder gives the user the ability to model loads manually into their model as Point Loads, Line Loads, and Patch (Area) Loads. Additionally the user can use the Patch Load Wizard and the Line Load Wizard to quickly generate area and line loads from line work imported or created within the model. Slab regions within the model can also be used with the Line and Patch Load Wizards to generate loads.

Note: Loads applied to columns, walls, and beams with no slab region covering them must be applied along the centerline of beams and walls, or at the centroid of columns. If a slab is present over the columns, walls, or beams the applied loads can be placed anywhere within the slab region boundary. The load will be discretized to the nodes nearest to the applied load. If openings are present or the load is not fully modeled on a structural component, the portion of the load outside of the model and in openings within the model will be discounted from the analysis.

The tools for adding general loads to the model are located in the Loading ribbon General panel.

Click the [+] icons below to expand/view the instructions.

  1. Go to Loading>General and click on the Add Point Load icon.

  2. The inputs for the load you are about to create will be shown in the Properties Grid as shown below.

    Note: For the load properties to be visible you must have the Properties Grid visible prior to clicking on any of the add load tools.

  3. In the General section of the Properties Grid, use the Load Case input drop down menu to select the load case you want the load applied to. If the load case is not listed you may add it through the Load Case Manager. .

  4. Modify the appropriate Fx, Fy, Fz, Mxx, and Myy values in the Magnitude section of the Property Grid with the magnitude of the load for each direction you want applied to the model for the specified load case.

  5. Left-click in the model space at the location where you want the load applied. The point load will be represented by a green colored hexagon as shown below.

  6. Repeat steps 2 through 5 until all point loads have been applied to the model.

  7. Once all point loads have been applied to the model click the ESC button on your keyboard or right-click your mouse in white space within the model space, and choose Exit from the right click menu to exit the Add Point Load function.

  8. The user can validate the applied point loads using the Colorize Loads feature of the Colorize Grid.

  9. In addition you can click on the + sign in the Loads section of the Visibility Grid to show point load properties in the plan view.

  1. Go to Loading>General and click on the Add Line Load icon.

  2. The inputs for the load you are about to create will be shown in the Properties Grid as shown below.

    Note: For the load properties to be visible you must have the Properties Grid visible prior to clicking on any of the add load tools.

  3. Use the Load Case drop down menu to select the load case you want the load applied to. If the load case is not listed you may add it through the Load Case Manager.

  4. In the Magnitude section of the Properties Grid choose if the load you are applying will be a Uniform Load or a Variable Load depending on the load type you want.

  5. Modify the appropriate Fx, Fy, Fz, Mx, and My values in the Magnitude section of the Property Grid with the magnitude of the load for each direction you want applied to the model for the specified load case.

  6. Left-click in the model space at the location where you want to place the first point of the line load.

  7. Left-click in the model space at the location where you want to place the second point of the line load. The line load will be placed in the model and displayed on screen. The line load will be represented by two green hexagons connected by a green line as shown below.

  8. Repeat steps 2 through 7 until all line loads have been applied to the model.

  9. Once all line loads have been applied to the model click the ESC button on your keyboard or right-click your mouse in white space within the model space, and choose Exit from the right click menu to exit the Add Line Load function.

  10. The user can validate the applied line loads using the Colorize Loads feature of the Colorize Grid.

  11. In addition you can click on the + sign in the Loads section of the Visibility Grid to show line load properties in the plan view.

  1. Go to Loading>General and click on the Add Patch Load icon.

  2. The inputs for the load you are about to create will be shown in the Properties Grid as shown below.

    Note: For the load properties to be visible you must have the Properties Grid visible prior to clicking on any of the add load tools.

  3. Use the Load Case drop down menu to select the load case you want the load applied to. If the load case is not listed you may add it through the Load Case Manager.

  4. In the Magnitude section of the Property Grid choose if the load you are applying will be a Uniform Load or a Variable Load depending on the load type you want.

  5. Modify the appropriate Fx, Fy, Fz, Mxx, and Myy values in the Magnitude section of the Property Grid with the magnitude of the load for each direction you want applied to the model for the specified load case.

  6. Left-click in the model space at the location where you want to place the first point of the patch load.

  7. Left-click in the model space at the location where you want to place the second point of the patch load.

  8. Continue left-clicking to place verticies for the patch load until the patch load covers the given area you want it applied at. A patch load can be of any shape but must be placed over a slab region to be considered.

  9. Once you have placed the last vertex of the area load click the C key on your keyboard to close the modeling of that patch load. This will create one more edge for the patch load from the last point to the first point of the area load. An example of an area load placed on a slab region is shown below.

  10. Repeat steps 2 through 9 until all patch loads have been applied to the model.

  11. Once all patch loads have been applied to the model, click the ESC button on your keyboard or right-click your mouse in white space within the model space, and choose Exit from the right click menu to exit the Add Point Load function.

  12. The user can validate the applied patch loads using the Colorize Loads feature of the Colorize Grid.

  13. In addition you can click on the + sign in the Loads section of the Visibility Grid to show patch load properties in the plan view.

  1. Go to Loading>General and click on the Line Load Wizard icon.

  2. The program will prompt you to select the entity you want to trace with line loads. The entity in this case can be a slab region, beam, wall, opening, or a drawn or imported line, polygon, or polyline.

    Alternatively, you can select one or more components or lines that you want to create a line load from prior to clicking the Line Load Wizard icon to apply loads to multiple items at once.

  3. In the Create Line Load Automatically window use the Load Case drop down to select the load case you want the line loads applied to. If the load case is not listed you can create the load case using the Load Case Manager. In the example below we have chosen the Dead load case.

  4. In the text entry box to the right of the load case drop down, enter the magnitude of the applied line load in kips per linear foot (k/ft).

  5. Click the Create button, the program will prompt you with a dialog confirming the number of line loads to be created.

  6. Click OK to close the dialog window and view the loads that were created. In the image below we have selected an opening modeled in the middle of the slab. The image is in an isometric view where we can see the line load projecting from the perimeter of the opening.

  7. Repeat steps 1 through 6 until all line loads have been applied to the model.

  8. The user can validate the applied line loads using the Colorize Loads feature of the Colorize Grid.

  9. In addition you can click on the + sign in the Loads section of the Visibility Grid to show line load properties in the plan view.

  1. Select the entity you want to create a patch load from. The entity in this case can be a slab region, ramp, or a drawn or imported polygon, or polyline.

  2. Go to Loading>General and click on the Patch Load Wizard icon.

  3. In the Create Patch Load Automatically window use the Load Case drop down to select the load case you want the line loads applied to. If the load case is not listed you can create the load case using the Load Case Manager. Temperature and Shrinkage loading can also be applied using the Patch Load Wizard. In the example below we have chosen the Dead load case.

  4. In the text entry box to the right of the load case drop down, enter the magnitude of the applied patch load in kips per square foot (ksf).

  5. Click the Create button to close the dialog window and view the loads that were created. In the image below we have selected the slab region . The image is in an isometric view where we can see the line load projecting from the perimeter of the slab region.

  6. Repeat steps 1 through 5 until all patch loads have been applied to the model.

  7. The user can validate the applied patch loads using the Colorize Loads feature of the Colorize Grid.

  8. In addition you can click on the + sign in the Loads section of the Visibility Grid to show patch load properties in the plan view.